Lifeboat and diving apparatus



'T D. MATHENYe LIFEBOAT AND DIVINGIAPPABATUSQ APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1919.

1,331,819. v Patented Feb. 24,1920;

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- T. D. MATHENY. LIFEBOATJAND myms APPARATUS.

APPLICK TION FILED OCT. 21. I919- Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

2 sums-sun 2.

and improved device of this THOMAS D. MATHEI TY, 0F PONTIAC, MICHIGAN.

LIFEBOAT AND DIVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24., was.

Application filed. October 21,1919. Serial No. 332,263.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. MATHENY,

a citizenf the United States, residing at v ings, B denotes a and configuration,

be propelled through the medium of the.

Pontiac, in' the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lifeboat and Diving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

1 This invention relates to an improved life boat and diving apparatus and it is an object of the invention to providea novel general character wherein the motor for propelling the boat maybe employed to charge air tanks to give buoyancy to the boat and to supply the diver, when submerged, with necessary air.

lit is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character whereby the air may be delievered to the diver directly from the compressor or pump, or from a tank containing air under pressure.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a propeller rotatably supported by and below the boat, and which operates to maintain the boat in desired position with respect to the diver I when submerged.

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section and of a diagrammatic character illustrating a device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my in.- vehtion;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the boat, as herein disclosed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFig. l; v

Fig. 4i is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a reel, as herein embodied, and which coacts with a diver;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken through the reel illustrated in rpand illustrating the manner of winding thereon, and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in sectionand partly in elevation, of'a reel line leading from I the around which an air line is adapted to be wound. j

As disclosed in the accompanying drawboat of desired dimension and which is adapted to ropeller P, carried. -by a driven shaft 1. The shaft 1 coacts with the driving shaft 2, driven by a motor M, preferably of an in ternal combustion type, between the shafts 1 and 2, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is through the instrumentality of the movable clutch member 8 under the control of an operating lever l. The fore portion of the boat at opposite sides of its transverse center or keel is provided with the tanks T adapted to con tain air under pressure, in order to increase the buoyancy of the boat B. The tanks are connected by the transversely disposed pipe 5, having interposed therein a control ling valve 6. The rear portion of the boat at its opposite sides is provided with the exteriorly arranged. tanks T, also adapted. to contain air under pressure, and to further increase the buoyancy of the boat.

G denotes an air compressor or pump driven from the shaft 2, and leading from the compressor or pump C to one of the tanks T is a pipe line 7,. Interposed in the pipe line 7 is a controlling valve 8. Re tatably supported by a side of the boat is a pair of reels R, about each of which is adapted to be wound an end portion of an air line or of a reel R, and leading from the shaft 1i.

and the connection hose 9 leading to the helmet :H i of a divers armor, and interposed in said of one of the reels R is a pipe line in communication with the pipe line 7 ex; teriorly of the tank T, and in advance of the controlling valve 6. Interposed 1n the line 12 is acontrolling valve 14 and a check valve 15, said check valve 1 5, preventing retrograde flow through the line 12.

A hollow" shaft 11 of the second reetit .has i mcbmmuiiication therewith a pipe line 31 are adapted to be inserted. The

I the the members 20, one of which is slidably operated by the lever 21 within the boat B.

G denotes a guard inclosing the lower or extended portion of the shaft 2 and comprising two'relatively movable sections. The

lower section 22 affords a bearing for an end portion of a shaft 23, having universal connection, as at 241?, with the lower portion of the shaft 18, whereby the shaft 23 is permitted to have swinging movement. Fixed to the shaft 23 is a propeller 25.

The requisite relative movement of the sections of the guard G is permitted in view of the fact that the lower section of said guard has Ya greater radius than the upper section and whereby angular or swinging movement of the shaft 23 with relation to the shaft 18 is possible.

Secured to the lower section 22 of the guard G and at a point substantially in'longitudinalalinement with the shaft'23 is an end portion of a flexible member 26. The member 26 leads to and is secured to the shaft 27 of a reel R. The reel R is adapted to be secured through the medium of a suitable harness 28 to the shoulder of the diver, as is indicated in Fig. 1.

The reel R includes the radial side arms 29 and a pair of arms 29, alined longitudinally of the shaft 27, Fig. 5, are provided with the openings 30, spaced longitudinally of said arms 29, and through which the pins flexible member 26 can be readily lengthened with respect to the reel, as the diversubmerges by removing a pin 31, as the occasions of practice may require.

er 26 upon the'reel B it is preferred that four wrappings be made around a pin 31, before a second pin is applied.

As the diver moves about whenv submerged, the flexible member 26 will cause the shaft 23 to move in a direction to extend longitudinally toward the diver, and the pitch of the propeller 25 is such that the boat will be caused to follow the diver, it being understood that while the diver is submerged, the propeller 25 is in operation and propeller P is inoperative. When the mem er 26 becomes slack, the shaft 23 will assume substantially a vertical position whereby the continued rotation of the 'propeller 25 will not cause the boat to recede from the diver. Propeller 25causes the boat to be maintained substantially directly above the diver when submerged and causes the boat to follow the diver as he moves about below the surface of the water. In view of this the feeding of air to the diver is ma- In rolling the, mem-.

tance in order to position himself to be returned to the surface.

It will also be understood that air may he delivered to the diver when submerged, di-

rectly from the compressor or pump 0,01, as

in the case of an emergency, air may be conveyed to the diver directly from a tank T.

i The valve 10 in each of the lines 9 permits the diver to control the admission of air within the helmet H, as best meets the requirements of practice, while the valves 6, 8, 14.- and 17 are adapted to be opened, closed or otherwise adjusted as necessities may re quire.

A pair of the opposite arms of each of the reels R is provided with registering apertures or openings 30", toreceive the pins 31 similar to those of the reel R, to prevent the pipe line from unreeling too rapidly.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a life boat and diving apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a boat, a shaft extending exteriorly of the boat, means for operating the shaft, a second shaft in operative engage ment with the first named shaft and having swinging movement relative thereto, a propeller carried by said second shaft, and means for imparting swinging movement to the second shaft'and adapted for connection with an object in submergence.

' 2. A device of the class described comprising a boat, a shaft extending exteriorly thereof, means for rotating the shaft, a guard surrounding the exterior portion of the shaft, said guard comprising relatively movable'sections, a second shaft operatively engaged with the first named shaft and hav ing swinging movement relative thereto, one

of the sections of the guard serving as a 3. A device of the character described comprising a boat, a shaft extending exto the second shaft and adapted for connecteriorly of the boat, means for operating the tion with an object in submergence, and a' 7 shaft, a second shaft in operative connection winding medium coacting with said flexible 10 with the first named shaft and having swingmember. ing movement relative thereto, a propeller In testimonypwhereof I hereunto af'fix my carried by said second shaft, and flexible "signature. M

means for imparting swinging movement THOS. D. MATHENY. 

